It started with a single hire — and a vision to build something that didn’t yet exist. Just four years later, that vision is thriving. The SentinelOne Czech and Slovak team has grown into a culture-rich, high-impact community that continues to set the bar for engineering excellence across the company. It’s not just the scale that stands out. It’s the spirit.
Step into the Prague office and you’ll feel it immediately: the energy, the connection, the drive to build. From humble beginnings to headline growth, this team hasn’t just scaled. They’ve created something uniquely their own. And they’ve done it with heart, consistency, and a deep belief in meaningful work — together, one hire at a time.
Why Prague?
When we were considering a new hub in Central Europe, Prague checked all the boxes. The region is packed with technical talent, especially in STEM, and there’s a no-nonsense, honest way of working that just fits the SentinelOne culture.
“It wasn’t just about talent, it was also about mindset,” said Divya Ghatak, Chief People, Places and Corporate Engagement Officer. “People in the Czech Republic and Slovakia bring directness and a strong sense of accountability, all of which align well with our mission and the kind of company we were building.”
When it came time to find someone to lead the new site, there was no hesitation. Divya had worked with a leader in a prior role who had the right mix of technical depth, people-first leadership, and startup grit. That leader was Martin Matula.
Martin, now VP, Software Engineering and CZ/SK Site Lead, describes accepting the challenge as the easiest job decision he’s ever made.
“I met the executive team, and they were so real, so down to earth, it felt like fate,” said Martin. “I had zero doubts. My only question was, ‘Where do I sign?’”
Humble Beginnings, Bold Goals
As the very first Sentinel in the region, Martin Matula wasted no time. With a bold hiring target and an unfamiliar brand, there was no playbook — just vision and momentum.
“SentinelOne was totally unknown in the Czech Republic,” he said. “And our goals for the site were pretty ambitious, to hire a hundred people every year. That was not a small number.”
Soon after, he was joined by Anastasija Frizenova, Director, Technical Recruiting. Together, they faced the challenge of building everything from the ground up — starting with contracts, systems, and a hiring engine that didn’t yet exist.
“We barely had anything ready back then, not even local contracts,” she recalled. “It was a huge challenge, building something like this from scratch, which was exactly why I said yes.”
In the early days, the scope was focused and deliberate. The immediate need was a high volume of software engineers with various sets of technical skills, both local and those open to relocating to Prague.
“We needed a large cohort of seasoned software engineers,” Anastasija said. “Over the years, our talent needs grew to include product roles, support, and other cybersecurity specializations.”
A Global Engineering Powerhouse
From a handful of employees in Prague, the Czech and Slovak operation has grown at remarkable speed. By July 2022, the team hit 100 employees. Less than a year later, that number had doubled. By August 2024, it surpassed 300. Today, over 350 Sentinels across every function are shaping the future of cybersecurity from the heart of Europe.
“Somehow, it worked like magic. We hit our three-year goal, and now we’re in year four, still growing at the same pace,” Martin said. “There’s a lot we can be proud of. Right now, we’re the largest engineering hub for SentinelOne in terms of headcount.”
From the core platform to end-user features, local teams in the area now contribute across the full spectrum of innovation.
“The way we structure teams isn’t based on specific tech stacks or expertise, but on product domains or areas. Each team owns a piece of the product end-to-end,” Martin said. “That structure creates a stronger sense of ownership. It helps everybody better understand the customer they’re serving and deliver more innovative solutions.”
This growth isn’t just measured in numbers, it’s reflected in how the Prague site operates. The team has taken ownership not only of what they build, but how they work together and what kind of culture they want to cultivate. The result is a unique identity that blends engineering excellence with autonomy and pride in craftsmanship.
A Culture of Care
That strong sense of identity didn’t happen by accident. It’s been shaped, nurtured, and carried forward by the people who helped build the site from day one. Veronika Liehmanová, Director, People CZ & SK, joined almost four years ago, back when the team was just 26 people and the culture was still taking shape.
“Our people are capable and hardworking,” said Veronika. “They are truly passionate and go above and beyond every day. They want to do things the best way they can, because they care about what they do and about the people they’re doing it with.”
It’s the small, human gestures that stand out most to her — everyday moments that speak volumes about the culture.
“Like people bringing plums from their garden to share, or baking a cake for the office, or bringing sweets from their travels,” she said. “They really care about making others feel good. I think that is very special.”
Veronika remembered the first moment she understood what made the culture different — and it happened on her first day.
“We were a very small team then,” she said. “We met in the common room, and one manager started listing everything that didn’t work. He went on and on, just complaining. Martin stopped him and said, ‘We’re not here to complain, we’re here to make things work.’”
That direction from Martin was more than a moment. It helped shape a mindset with the team.
“It made a tremendous impression on me,” said Veronika. “I’ve held on to that mindset ever since. We’re here to make things better. I want us to succeed. We all want us to succeed.”
Katie Southern, VP, People EMEA, APJ & Global Connected Experiences, has been with SentinelOne for six years and has played a key role in helping define our people experience globally. She sees Prague as one of the most compelling examples of a site that has built its own unique identity — one rooted in care, trust, and community.
“People are the greatest asset of any organization,” said Katie, “There’s a real sense of community in Prague. You see people connecting outside of work, attending each other’s weddings, doing things on the weekend, traveling together. It’s a team that puts community first, but also brings a very practical mindset to everything.”
Many of the founding team members are still part of the site today. That continuity speaks volumes. It’s not just about tenure, it’s about what has kept them here: the belief that what they’re building matters.
“That speaks to the strength of this culture more than anything,” said Divya. “They’ve seen the site evolve, and they’ve done a great job shaping and nurturing their own identity within our global fast-changing environment.”
That identity didn’t emerge easily. With teams supporting functions not only in Czechia, but also in Israel and India, and with many managers based outside the region, the team had to navigate a highly complex setup. They had to establish trust, communication norms, and expectations across geographies and time zones. Doing that while scaling quickly was no small feat.
Today, that foundation is visible in more than just product innovation. Prague has become a destination — for talent, for customers, and for community. Katie described the region as “a strategic asset.”
“Our presence in Prague has become a major source of pride for us as a company,” Katie reflected. “It is a beautiful city, incredibly attractive to both our customers and partners, whether for educational programs or for events like our recent PartnerOne conference. Its impact from a sales perspective has been important as well. And in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, having a strong presence in Europe has given us global credibility and stability.”
Why We’re Here
What binds it all together — the people, the pace, the pride, the persistence — is our mission.
“I decided a few years back that I wanted my work to mean something, to matter,” said Martin. “As our lives become increasingly digital, cybersecurity is no longer just about privacy. It’s about personal safety, identity protection, and even physical security, especially as more international conflicts shift into cyberspace. Our field keeps growing in importance. And I think it’s fulfilling to be on the right side.”
That sense of purpose runs deep.
“Our company mission is to Secure Tomorrow for all, to be a Force for Good. And it is a powerful mission,” Divya said. “We are committed to not just changing the workplace, but also changing the world.”
The mission isn’t confined to office walls or product roadmaps. It reaches into classrooms, care homes, and communities, where local Sentinels roll up their sleeves to make a difference.
As one of SentinelOne’s most active Corporate Social Responsibility hubs, the Prague site runs school supply and clothing drives, shops for underprivileged families during the holidays, supports food banks, and mentors children from disadvantaged backgrounds in IT and cybersecurity.
“Even a small act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone else, and that’s very rewarding for us,” said Veronika Lukáčová, Senior Workplace and Operations Manager, who leads local employee experience programs, including CSR efforts. “We try to focus on smaller organizations that don’t always get the spotlight or the funding. Through nonprofits, we connect with the actual people in need. That personal connection matters. When you see the individuals on the receiving end, it makes the work — and the impact — real.”
Veronika was also part of the original crew that laid the foundations of the CZ/SK site four years ago. She oversaw the opening of the Prague office, setting up everything from an operational perspective, and helped ensure that the company’s later expansion to Brno went as smoothly as possible. “It’s been incredible to watch how far we’ve come,” she said. “From empty rooms to thriving teams, every detail we built in those early days still carries through in how people feel when they walk in.”
What’s Next?
The future of SentinelOne in the Czech Republic and Slovakia isn’t just a roadmap. It’s a shared vision, built on creativity, trust, and the belief that the best is still ahead. The work is demanding, but the value is undeniable.
“I’m the kind of person who needs to feel like I can influence things,” Martin said. “When you work for a tech giant, you’re just one cog in a machine with tens of thousands of others. Here, you can join and immediately make a difference.”
The vision for what’s next is ambitious, but it’s grounded in momentum.
“We’re one of the fastest-growing companies in the public market, and we still have a massive runway ahead,” said Divya. “Out of all the companies that go public, only a handful reach a billion dollars in revenue. We’re on that path.”
With its ambition, identity, and deep sense of community, Prague isn’t just expected to support that journey — it’s expected to help lead it.
“Ten years from now, I hope that on Sundays people will still think: awesome, tomorrow’s Monday. I get to see my friends,” said Veronika Liehmanová. “If that’s still true, then we’ve done it right.”